Government gets tough on AFL over secrecy surrounding drug-testing
policy

THE Federal Government has told the AFL to abandon the practice
of secret drug-testing and reveal the names of players caught under
its illicit drugs policy.

This comes after the Herald was prevented from publishing
the names of three players, who have twice returned positive drug
tests, following a late-night injunction taken out by the AFL and
the AFL Players' Association. The Victorian Supreme Court has
ordered the names must remain confidential.

But the Federal Minister for Sport, Rod Kemp, told parliament
late on Wednesday night that the sanctions and reporting
arrangements of the AFL's illicit drug policy were "out of touch
with community expectations". He said the government had "zero
tolerance of doping in sport".

Relations between the AFL and the Federal Government became
fractured after the league was reluctant to embrace the mandatory
World Anti-Doping Agency testing regime. The AFL has since signed
the WADA code but the lack of transparency in its in-house illicit
drug code has raised the ire of both political parties.

"They are not seen to be rigorous enough," Senator Kemp said in
response to questioning from Opposition sports spokesperson Kate
Lundy. "I think sporting clubs want to know the names of the
players, and I have called on the AFL to have another look at their
code - which is in addition to the WADA code - and look more
closely at how the sanctions are applied and how the reporting
arrangements are applied."

Senator Lundy claimed the AFL was undermining the government's
zero tolerance approach to drugs in sport.

Senator Kemp said the AFL had to show leadership on this issue.
"In my view, with the additional testing that they do, the AFL can
now take a real lead, look more closely at their sanctions and have
some tougher sanctions and a more open and transparent reporting
process," he said.

The secret nature of the illicit drug code - which involves
keeping the names of positive drug users a closely guarded secret
until the third offence - has been criticised by International
Olympic Committee member Kevan Gosper.

However, the National Rugby League is looking at introducing a
similar policy, providing a uniform out-of-competition testing
regime across all clubs.